Boeing workers have gone on strike, after they rejected a union-company deal over pay increases.
Around 33,000 machinists today lowered their tools in two Washington plants – Renton and Everett. The local branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced that workers had almost unanimously decided to strike.
Thursday, 12 September 2014 marked the expiration of a contract signed in 2008 and renewed again in 2014.
Nearly 95% of workers who voted rejected the proposed contract, and 96% approved of the work stoppage. This easily exceeded the two-thirds requirement.
The strikers assemble Boeing’s most popular airliner, the 737 Max. They also assemble the 777, 767 and other cargo planes. The strike is unlikely to affect the production of Boeing 787 Dreamliners built in South Carolina by non-union employees.
Workers rejected a contract which the beleaguered aviation giant characterized as a win for employees, given the company’s deplorable financial situation resulting primarily from safety issues with 737 Max. These safety issues contributed to two fatal accidents and a number of incidents that caused injuries to passengers.
The employees rejected an agreement that would have raised wages by 25 percent over four years.
Jon Holden said, “Our members spoke out loud and clear this evening.”
Boeing released a statement saying: “The message we sent was clear, that the tentative agreement reached with IAM leaders was not acceptable by the members.
“We are committed to resetting the relationship with our union and our employees, and we’re ready to return to the table and reach a new deal.”
In a recent message, representatives of the union urged members to support this proposed agreement.
The preliminary agreement that was rejected by the workers also included an assurance from Boeing that it would build its next commercial aircraft in the Seattle region if the project began during the life of the contract.
Initially, the union sought to improve workers’ benefits packages by implementing a 40 percent pay increase.
Kelly Ortberg, the new CEO of the aerospace giant, had warned workers that industrial action could put the company’s recovery in danger.
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